The State Science Review Committee (SRC) evaluates every project to ensure it meets eligibility requirements before participating in TXSEF. Each project must receive SRC approval prior to competition. This volunteer committee includes at least one biomedical scientist, one science educator, and one additional qualified member. SRC members are well-versed in research practices and regulatory guidelines, carefully reviewing required forms and resolving any issues before the fair. They also identify potential “red flags” that may require additional documentation or affect project eligibility. The SRC’s primary goal is to ensure all projects are safe and fully compliant with ISEF rules. As a first step, please use the ISEF Rules Wizard to determine which forms and approvals your project may need.
What are common SRC red flags?
All the Following Project Types Must Have SRC Approval
Human Subject Studies
- Projects involving human subjects, IRB pre-approval is required.
- Form(s) needed:
- Jr. Division: Texas Safety and Consent Form
- Sr. Division:
- #4: Human Participant Form
- #2: Qualified Scientist Form might be required
Exempt Studies (do not require IRB preapproval or Human Participant paperwork):
- Student-designed inventions, prototypes, computer applications, engineering/design projects, or consumer product testing when:
- The student researcher is the only tester, and
- The testing does not pose a health or safety risk.
- This exemption may also apply when a single adult guardian or Adult Sponsor/QS/DS is the sole tester when an adult is required.
- IRB pre-approval is required if:
- More than one person is involved in testing
- Any human variable is introduced (e.g., amount of sleep, strength, endurance).
- Data or record review studies using preexisting, publicly available, or published datasets, when the project:
- Involves no interaction with people
- Does not collect any new data from human participants.
- Behavioral observations in unrestricted public settings (e.g., parks, malls) when all of the following are true:
- The researcher does not interact with observed individuals.
- The researcher does not manipulate the environment.
- No personally identifiable information is recorded.
- Projects using pre-existing or retrospective data that are provided in a fully de-identified/anonymous format, if:
- A qualified professional provides written certification that the data were properly de-identified and comply with privacy and HIPAA laws.
- The affiliated fair SRC reviews documentation to confirm that the data were appropriately de-identified.
Vertebrate Animal Studies
- Projects involving vertebrate animals including Cephalopods
- Form(s) needed:
- Jr. Division: Texas Safety and Consent Form
- Sr. Division:
- #5A: Vertebrate Animal Form
- #2: Qualified Scientist Form might be required
Exempt Studies (do not require SRC preapproval):
- Behavioral observation studies of animals are exempt from prior SRC review only if all of the following conditions are met:
- The student does not interact with the animals in any way.
- The student does not manipulate or change the animals’ environment.
- The study fully complies with all federal and state agriculture, fish, game, and wildlife laws and regulations.
Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Studies
- Projects involving microorganisms and/or human or vertebrate animal tissues, cells, or fluids
- Certified Laboratories
- Experimentation involving the culturing of potentially hazardous biological agents, even BSL-1 organisms, is prohibited in a home environment. However, specimens may be collected at home as long as they are immediately transported to a laboratory with the BSL containment determined by the affiliated fair SRC. For more information about Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Rules please review ISEF rules.
- Form(s) needed:
- Jr. Division: Texas Safety and Consent Form
- Sr. Division:
- #6A: Potentially Hazardous Biological Agents Risk Assessment
- #6B: Human and Vertebrate Animal Tissue (if applicable)
- #2: Qualified Scientist Form might be required
Exempt Studies (do not require SRC preapproval):
- The following types of studies are exempt from prior SRC review, but require a Risk Assessment Form 3:
- Studies involving protists and archaea
- Research using manure for composting, fuel production, or other non-culturing experiment
- Commercially available color change coliform detection test kits; these kits must remain sealed and must be properly disposed
- Studies involving decomposition of vertebrate organisms (such as in forensic projects)
- Studies with microbial fuel cells in which the device is sealed during experimentation and disposed of properly at the conclusion of the study
- Studies involving fermentation of baker’s yeast and brewer’s yeast, except in rDNA studies
- Studies involving Lactobacillus, Bacillus thuringiensis, nitrogen-fixing, oil-eating, and algae-eating bacteria introduced into their natural environment (not exempt if cultured in a petri dish environment)
- Studies involving water or soil microbes not concentrated in media conducive to their microbial growth
- Studies of mold growth on food items if the experiment is terminated at the first evidence of mold
- Studies of slime molds and edible mushrooms
- Studies involving coli OP-50 and other strains of E. coli that are used solely as a food source for C. elegans and are performed at school and are not subject to additional rules for recombinant DNA studies or use of antibiotic-resistant organisms
- Studies involving coli K-12 that are performed at school and are not subject to additional rules for recombinant DNA studies or use of antibiotic resistant organisms
